EVIL WEED

Pssst! Hey you? Yeah. You. The funny looking monkey reading this sh*t. Do you want to buy some stuff, buddy? You know -- sniff-sniff -- 'stuff'. It's pretty good you know. Not anything like the bad stuff seen in this film Directed by David Wexler, and
Starring: Brianna Barnes, Genevieve Hudson-Price, Cynthia LaForte, and Bekim
Trenova. It was made in 2009 and lasts for a whole 70-minutes.

Honest to God, Emily (Brianna Barnes) thought that it would
be a good idea if her and some pals would travel to her parent's country house
for the weekend, just so they could all hang-out together.

Now her boyfriend, Murph (Ryan Willard), just loves this
idea. Because this rather rustic location would be a really great place
to propose to his sweetheart. Emily's sister, Danielle (Genevieve Hudson-Price), just loves this idea too. Because it giver her and her dope-smoking
boyfriend a chance to get high in relative luxury. But as for the reluctant on
and off couple of Dan and Tinny (Bekim Trenova and Cynthia LaForte) on the other hand... err -- they
go anyway -- just to make up the numbers.

Now at first this excursion appears to be a memorable one on the surface. They
all chill out-together. They all prance around half-naked together. And to top
it all off, Danielle and her feller get the opportunity to sample some weed on
the sly. However, not so long after Murph pops the question to his
very blushing bride to be, something very strange starts to happen in the
immediate vicinity.

No. Don't fret, dear reader. It does not have anything to do with Dan
and Tinny arguing then screwing in Emily's parent's bedroom. Instead, it's Danielle's
pot-smoking pal.

You see, he starts to act very strange and very aloof around Emily
and the rest of the gang. Furthermore, his drug of choice takes a hold of his
mind, prompting him to do some very-very-very bad things indeed.

But then again, I suppose that is why what next transpires all kicks
off when a killing occurs? As people scream - other people look mean - sharks
don't attack - and please remember to never look back.

Grrrr!

THE REVIEW:

Within recent months I've started to connect -- so to speak
-- with the independent film market. Granted, nothing 'major-major' in the
scheme of things. Nonetheless, this occurrence has prompted my interest just
enough to actually sit down and do a -- whatever this is -- for one of these
low-budget productions.

Now I personally chose 'Evil Weed' to be the first of these
types of films to review, for three very simple reasons. Firstly, it was cheap
and short in length (well, I have to be honest, don't I?). Secondly, I knew
that this film touched upon the horror genre, and I am somewhat familiar with
the structure and tone of this type of flick. And thirdly, I heard that it was
in same vein as another film that also came from the independent world which I
really do like, 'Evil Dead' (click on the link for the review).

OK, so what's my conclusion then? Is this movie a dud or a
ding? Well, to be completely frank about it (whoever he is), this production is
more of a dom. Please allow me to explain. (1) As with most of the other horror
movies I've watched, the story to this one was very thin on the surface. For example: A
group of pals go to a house in the middle of nowhere for the weekend, and
something bad happens to them -- the end. Granted, this pretext is a very valid
pretext to build upon. However -- it doesn't. It just pouts and poses for the
sake of cosmetic frivolity, without adding meat to its collective bones. (2) One of the aspect that confounded me the most with this flick, was that whole thing between Dan and Tinny. You
see, in the space of about twenty minutes or so: they weren't speaking to each
other -- they argued with each other -- and then they were humping each other. This was too quick in execution, and didn't possess enough girth. (3) I'm afraid to say that the first ten
minutes of this film was just abysmal to watch; because it came across like a
home-made movie set to a story. Too wooden -- not enough exposition -- plus
there wasn't any vibrancy to it what so ever. (4) Personally speaking, I found
the nudity in this film very nice to look at, although it added no substance to
the overall tone of the piece. Truthfully, its inclusion felt like a deliberate
ruse to attract people attention to watch it. (5) I wasn't expecting all that
much from the special effect in this film -- and a good job to -- say no more.

Listen, I know what I've just said doesn't shine a
bright light upon 'Bad Weed'. Though, I have to admit, there were parts of it
that I really did like. Initially a big shout-out should go to Brianna Barnes
and Ryan Willard: because these two actors did have enough charisma and grace
to hold whatever screen time was allotted to them. Also, I have to say that Bekim
Trenova and Cynthia LaForte weren't that bad either: although a little stiff
and a little hammy for my own personal tastes. Apart from that though -- err --
see above.

Hey! I tell you what. Just to end this -- whatever it is --
on a good note, please allow me to raise the tone a bit with some facts about
cannabis, OK? [Pun intended]: (1) An unnamed writer claimed that the ancient
Jews, the early Christians, and the Muslim religions, have all applied this
stimulant to religious sacraments as early as 512AD. (2) Cannabis
was first introduced to the 'civilized western world' as a substance to
prohibit Elizabethan women to 'pass wind' in public -- i.e. flatulence
prevention. (3) One of the more practical uses of this narcotic is to sew or
crochet with. (4) Cannabis has been used to treat depression, anxiety
attacks, and act as a pain relief. (5) Allegedly the noted playwright, William
Shakespeare, dabbled about with this narcotic. (6) At the start of the early
20th century this drug was criminalized in numerous countries throughout the
world. In America
it was banned in 1906. In South America it was banned in
1912. And in England
it was banned in 1920. Please note, though: these laws did not prohibit these countries
from producing it for 'scientific or medical purposes'. (7) During World War II
cannabis was used as a truth serum by the newly formed American government
intelligence agency -- the 'Office of Strategic Services' [OSS].
(8) The American 'Marihuana Tax Act' was passed in 1937, and was put in place to
stop the production of hemp and cannabis farming. It is believed that one of
the main reasons why this act was passed through congress, was because movie
magnet, William Randolph Hearst, owned a lot of paper-mills, and hemp was
perceived as a 'cheaper substitute' than pulp at the time -- thus a threat.

Overall 'Evil Weed' was a not bad independent film -- and
I'm sure that we'll see the director plus some of the actors involved soon on
the big or small screen.